East Africa refugees get cash handouts

The United Nations refugee agency is raising concern that hundreds of independent charities are doing more harm than good at Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp by handing out aid including cash to those who have fled the famine in the Horn of Africa.

The agency UNHCR warns the unprecedented generosity is unco-ordinated and could causesignificant problems among the camp of hundreds ofthousands of refugees,who aremostly from neighbouring Somalia.

In an exclusive report Tuesday, the CBC's Carolyn Dunn documented a Turkish charity's incredible giveaway of cash in Dadaab.

Dunn witnessed a van pull up and men from the charity move to a tent and hand out white tickets to camp residents. A day later,hundreds of camp residentsholding tickets lined up as the charity handed out 2,000 Kenyan Shillings equivalent to about $22 to each of the ticket-holders.

The amount, Dunn said, "is a kings ransom to these people and it really is a gift from this charity."

"But sometimes gifts have a cost," she said.

With well over a thousand refugees flowing into the already overcrowdedcamp every day, the UN refugee agency says more chaos onthe groundis the last thing anyone needs.

While the independent charitiesare acting withgood intentions, the agency says the groups are showing up by the hundreds and handingeverythingfrom cash to clothes to food and creating an imbalance, since not all refugees will be lucky enough get extras.

"I think it's very important that we have things co-ordinated," UNHCR spokesman Emmanuel Nyabera told the CBC's Dunn. "We need to have everyone go through us, at least that we know whats happening where."

There's also a fear that distributing the aidrandomly in the campcould create security situations, since most of the refugees are penniless and have fled desperate circumstances.

Guards use whips to control crowd

Fatuma Ibrahim, who fled the famine in neighbouring Somalia because ofthe famine, didn't know exactly what the ticket would get her, but told Dunn she knew it will help feed her and her eight children.

"I think I'll get food for some days," she said.

Amina Sugow, in her wheelchair, was moved to the front of the line. Alone and disabled, she is considered among the most needy.

"Its good because its going to supplement what the UN is giving me," she told the CBC.

When the head of the charity arrived, it became apparent just how generous the gifts would be, as the men pulled out stacks of cash donated from the Turkish people and handed bundles out to coincide with the beginning of Eid festivities, whichmark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

The charity's staffwoudnt reveal how much they've given over three days, but the CBC'sestimates the amount adds up to a minimum of $150,000.

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"Why have millions of people been left to starve in East Africa, right in front of the worlds eyes?" said Osman Ilhan, general manager of Yardimeli, the charity handing out the cash.

The immediate security concerns became obvious when the crowd starts getting rowdy. As the tension built, security teams whipped members of the crowd to get them back in line, Dunn said.

But in the end, the money was distributed without serious incident to the delight of refugees like Fatuma Mohammed.

"I dont have a penny to my name," she said. "With this I can buy sugar, vegetables, even clothes."